The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has announced that Hawley Truax, the Foundation's Environment Program Officer, will be resigning from the Foundation at the end of this year to take a position as the Southeast Regional Director for Environmental Defense Fund – a leading international nonprofit that focuses on clean air and water; abundant fish and wildlife; and a stable climate by creating solutions that also carry economic benefits.
Truax’s eight-year tenure at the Foundation has resulted in innumerable contributions. Truax has been instrumental in building the Foundation’s climate change strategy, helping partners across the state find ways of working on this complex issue that reach across partisan lines. He has earned a place as a trusted advisor to nonprofit leaders from the mountains to the coast, always seeking ways to build the capacity of organizations beyond the grants provided by the Foundation. He has consistently remained a strong and passionate advocate for the values of the Foundation, and has served a critical role in encouraging North Carolina’s environmental and conservation communities to embrace the values of racial inclusion and equity. Truax has also played a significant role in connecting the Foundation to civic leaders across North Carolina, most recently as a key staff member in supporting the Foundation’s Community Leadership Council.
“While it is never easy to see an extremely valuable team member move on, this is an incredible opportunity and a new challenge for Hawley – and one in which we could not be more thrilled to see him leading,” said Maurice “Mo” Green, executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. “We are so grateful for the immense contributions Hawley has made to the Foundation during his time here. He will be sorely missed, but we are confident that he is going to continue to do great things for North Carolina and beyond.”
“Hawley’s vision has been critical to the Foundation’s work on environmental and sustainability issues,” said Lloyd “Jock” Tate, president of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. “Hawley’s deep knowledge and expertise has helped the Foundation cultivate sound and strong strategies that have resulted in an ability to move the needle on a number of important issues, including climate change and energy. He is extremely well-respected throughout the state. While this is a tremendous loss for the Foundation, we are so happy that he is transitioning to such a vital organization in this state that the Foundation has supported for decades.”
“The Foundation has greatly benefitted from Hawley’s ability to build and maintain strong relationships throughout the environmental community,” said Jane Smith Patterson, trustee of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. “Hawley genuinely cares about all of the issues within our environmental portfolio and has been such a steadfast partner to so many. His thoughtful and invaluable contributions will be missed, but we are so glad to see him moving into a role where he will continue to be an advocate and a voice for the environmental community, not just in North Carolina, but also regionally.”
While the Foundation is in the midst of a yearlong strategic assessment process, reexamining its approach to grantmaking and its work more generally, Truax’s departure is not an indication of any decisions on the part of the Foundation as to what the future will hold. The Foundation is not sure where it will land come May 2017, when it releases its new strategic vision; however, the Foundation will continue to adhere to its values and dedicate itself to the people of North Carolina by building a more equitable, sustainable and vibrant state. In the meantime, the Foundation is developing plans to continue its outstanding grantee relationships and other work led by Truax when he leaves. More information on those plans will be forthcoming.
In his new role at EDF, Truax will work closely with the organization’s longstanding strategic partners to address the most critical environmental challenges facing North Carolina and the region. He will coordinate solutions across EDF programs in climate and energy, ecosystems, environmental health, environmental justice and oceans.
EDF’s Southeast office is based in Raleigh, NC and opened in 1988 with seed money from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.
Truax will begin his new position in January 2017.